IAEA delegation to visit Iran

PanARMENIAN.Net - Diplomatic sources announced on Friday, Jan 13, that a high-level International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) delegation will visit Iran late this month to try to clear up West's concerns about Iran's peaceful nuclear activities, Fars News Agency reported

The trip led by International Atomic Energy Agency chief inspector Herman Nackaerts and the agency's number two Rafael Grossi will last from January 28 through the first week of February, a diplomat told AFP.

Another envoy also said the visit would "likely" be from January 28, although it was not yet definite.

There was also some "ambiguity" on whether the delegation would merely be able to hold talks with Iranian officials or whether they will be able to visit sites covered in the IAEA's November 8 report, the second diplomat said.

An IAEA spokesman declined to comment. Iran's Ambassador to the IAEA Ali Asghar Soltaniyeh said in December he would hold talks with the IAEA in Vienna this month about a visit.

The delegation would include alongside the Belgian Nackaerts and the Argentine Grossi - the righthand man of IAEA chief Yukiya Amano - the body's senior legal official Peri Lynne Johnson, a United States citizen, envoys said.